Dentures are among the most popular and effective dental solutions for replacing missing teeth and restoring functionality and beauty to your mouth. In fact, many millions of Americans rely on dentures each year! Yet, not all dentures are equally as effective or beneficial. Only when a denture is professionally created, is it in premier condition, and fits seamlessly in the mouth is it able to restore dental function, improve appearance, and sustain oral health.
When a denture is too large or too small, it can result in a significant number of oral health problems, overall health problems and cause severe pain and discomfort. If you want to know how wearing poorly-fitting dentures can result in long-term damage and harm, read this article from our Gainesville dentist at Comprehensive Dental Care. Contact our dentist office in Gainesville, FL, today to schedule an appointment to perfect the fit and function of your dentures!
Oral Infections & Ulcers
Dentures that fit improperly or poorly, whether they are too big, too small, or pose another issue that impedes their ability to seamlessly sit in the mouth, can cause oral infections and ulcers to develop in the short term as well as the long term. When a denture fits improperly, it often rubs against the surrounding gum tissue.
This friction can result in cuts, scrapes, and lacerations in the gums, which increase the risk of developing an infection in the mouth. If gum inflammation occurs for too long without being treated, it can result in oral cancer. Additionally, this rubbing caused by loose dentures can also cause blisters to form in the mouth, causing a significant degree of pain and discomfort.
Chewing & Eating Difficulties
Ill-fitting dentures can make it difficult or even impossible to eat the foods you love the most. Because poorly fitting dentures tend to rub against the gums, the gums can begin to feel sore and bruised, thus making it difficult to properly chew and eat. Chewing food to a tiny size is critical for digestion, oral health, and safety, as swallowing food too large can cause choking.
What’s more, these chewing and eating difficulties can even result in poor nutrition, as many healthy, nutrient-rich foods require the ability to chew in order to consume them. The primary purpose of dentures is to restore your bite to full functionality. Without the ability to chew and eat, a wide array of long-term consequences can arise.
Jawbone Resorption
When people lose their natural teeth, or the teeth that grew after their baby teeth fell out, their bodies begin to change. Without teeth, the body begins to think that it doesn’t need the support of the jaw bone, the site where the teeth once anchored in the mouth. When this happens, the jawbone can start to shrink over time.
This shrinking of the jawbone can give the face a tired, sunken, and sucked-in appearance, making you look older than you actually are. With poorly fitting dentures, people experience significant inflammation in their jaw, which often results in bone resorption occurring at a quickened rate. As the jaw shrinks, the less your dentures will fit as they should.
How Our Gainesville Dentists Can Help
Just about all issues associated with poorly fitting dentures and long-term consequences can be managed and resolved with an adjustment to your current denture or with new dentures. At Comprehensive Dental Care, we want our patients to be happy, comfortable, and healthy every day and throughout each stage of their lives. If you are experiencing any of these issues or another oral health problem, it’s time to see our dentists in Gainesville, FL. Contact us today to book your appointment!